Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme 2.0 (Film) [Review]

Vancouver, BC – Hip-hop heads and honeys gathered for a journey through Hip hop’s history by DJ Organic a.k.a. – Kevin Fitzgerald in Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme 2.0 live director’s cut screening. The Rio Theatre stage was immediately filled with B-boy and B-girl crews. Now or Never crew – arguably the best B-boy crew in Vancity – was in the house, reppin’ with hard moves and swaggin’ out for everyone to see. Jacks In The Stacks was pullin’ flips outta nowhere while Sydney P wacked her face off (it’s a dance move kids, don’t get too morbid).

The director’s kid, Luca came onstage to show his Dad (DJ Organic) up at B-boying. The stage was split; B-Boys and B-girls throwing freezes on one side while the emcee’s arrived onstage to freestyle in spirit of the movie. Vancity hip-hoppers such as Scruffmouth, Emotionz, A-Ro, DJ Organic and his son Luca took to the stage to spit some slanted rhymes with The Stuntman on decks.

Before the main feature a comical short called “Iron Mic: People’s Champion” was played about the infamous Eli Porter and Envy battle; the same rap battle that Kanye makes references to in Watch the Throne. The battle in which Eli pulls the famous line “I did it” and “I’ma let you know who’s the best by the hour. Just like Rosie O’Donnell at a bisexual baby shower.” If you haven’t watched the video check out – “Iron Mic: Eli porter vs. Envy” for MAXIMUM hilarity.

Finally Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme 2.0 live director’s cut commenced with the line “The Rules of this, freestyle.” The film takes the viewer on a spiritual journey of hip-hop, evolving from Jamaican toasting.

The Art of Rhyme takes us straight to some of the most memorable rap battles starting with the Freestyle champion SuperNatural, whom is so dedicated to his art that he reads the dictionary to get better at his game. The film shows us the battle of Supernatural vs. Craig G, in which Craig G smokes the shit outta SuperNatural. But before you assume the game is over, SuperNatural is back for round two, smashin’ Craig G to the point where he literally throws the mic and storms off the stage.

The movie then transverses to the following of the Freestyle Fellowship, a legendary freestyle group consisting of Myka 9, Aceyalone, P.E.A.C.E. and Self Jupiter, spittin’ game such as “I’m hotter then 2 dykes at hooters.”

The film shows us that hip-hop can be a healthy space for aggression and the forming of ciphers (freestyle circles) were part of the love and community that hip-hop really started as. The movie then takes us to Mos Def, who loves the cipher or poetry circle, which he explains as “fluidity of thought, a space that looks angry but is infinite.” The viewer is taken to Good Life Cafe, a place initiated after the popo began to shut down ciphers but the music could not be stopped. Instead it was taken inside to the Good Life Cafe, where the likes of Mos Def, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Lenny Kravitz and Cut Chemist from Jurassic 5 flowed out their freestyles.

From a director that poured his life into the Freestyle The Art of Rhyme 2.0 comes the message that hip-hop is really all about love. Make sure to check out this movie and support the man who’s behind it all.

Kassandra has her hands in several cookie jars. Born in Ontario but raised on the West coast, she is currently located in the wonderfully diverse East side of Vancouver. With a passion for all things creative KassKills is a hair stylist by day and HipHopCanada's West Coast Regional Editor by night.
Music and public relations are her true passions and although she didn't inherit the talent of her musician father she makes her mark on the industry through other avenues. By night you can catch KassKills at almost every Vancity hip-hop show, shaking hands and snapping photos while covering and supporting the local music scene. On top of that she works closely with one of the cities most reputable concert promotors, Timbre Concerts.
Kass is a hustler by nature and works hard to play a key role Vancity's hip-hop scene. Over the years she has seen, photographed and interviewed many of hip-hop's top artists such as T.I, Raekwon, Sheek Louch, Noreaga, Black Milk, Waka Flocka, Ab-Soul & Dizaster.